Work on the system began three years ago. The system can detect explosives from a distance, without
having to touch the object, unlike other systems that must make direct contact with the suspicious
object in order to collect potentially explosive particles. The system can both detect the presence of
explosives and determine their type.
Mini-Nose is the size of a cellular telephone, weighing only 250-300 grams. The international market
price is $8,000, substantially cheaper than stationary systems. In another configuration, the Mini-Nose
can be installed on a security gate. At $50,000 an installation, the company call its system highly cost
effective when compared with existing systems priced at $150,000. The US Federal Aviation Authority
(FAA) is expected to approve the system by June 2002, the scheduled date for the presentation of the
operational model.
Moshe Shalom estimates the total cost of the project from development to marketing will be $4 million.
In August 2001 , the Pentagon approved the system in principle, after viewing a demonstration of the
system in Washington. MS-Tech is currently in negotiations to acquire a strategic partner.
The system, called "Mini-Nose for Detection", was developed in Ness Ziona, with a joint grant from the
US Department of Defense and Rafael Israel's Defense Armaments Research and Development
Authority. The General Security Services, which is responsible for Israeli aviation security around the
world, and the Negev Nuclear Research Center at Dimona, serve as consultants for the project.
The Mini-Nose was developed by MS-Tech, which was founded and managed by Moshe Shalom, a
former employee in the local defense establishment. The company's 13-man development team
includes, scientists who recently immigrated from the CIS, some of whom have backgrounds in
space-related fields. The chief scientific officer is Lev Dayan, and the VP of Business Development is
Reuven Paz.